UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

B.Sc. Engineering Honours Degree

Semester 4 Examination: 2014 (’11 Batch)

CH 2043: PARTICLE TECHNOLOGY

Time allowed: 2 Hours April 2014

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: Graph papers will be provided

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES:
1. This paper consists of 4 questions in 6 pages.
2. Answer ALL Questions.
3. The maximum attainable mark for each question is given in brackets.
4. This examination accounts for 70% of the module assessment.
5. This is a closed book examination. Please leave all notes and other material outside the
examination hall
NB: It is an offence to be in possession of unauthorised material during the
examination.
6. Only calculators approved and labelled by the Faculty of Engineering are permitted.
7. Assume reasonable values for any data not given in or with the examination paper.
Clearly state such assumptions made on the script.
8. In case of any doubt as to the interpretation of the wording of a question, make suitable
assumptions and clearly state them on the script.
9. This paper should be answered only in English.
Question 1
(a) The following equation is applicable for filtration when the filter medium resistance

dV ∆P Aଶ
is neglected.
=
dt kV

Where V – Volume of filtrate t - time

∆P – Pressure difference A - Area
k – constant for the given slurry

Starting from the above equation show that for a given filter operating at constant
pressure V is given by;
2 ∆P Aଶ t
V=ඨ
k
[20]

(b) A suspension of solids is filtered at a constant pressure difference of 100 kN m-2 in a

laboratory leaf filter having 0.5 m2 area. Volume of filtrate collected (V) was
recorded as a function time (t) and a plot of t/V vs V is shown in the figure Q. 1.
Determine the constant k (with units) for the slurry.

50000
45000
40000
35000
30000
t/V (s/m3)

25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
0 0.001 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.005 [30]

V (m3)

Fig. Q. 1

(c) The same slurry is filtered in an industrial plate and frame filter press at constant
pressure for 3 mins. The filter medium resistance is negligible. The data for the filter
press operation are given below.

Number of frames = 8 Frame size = 0.3 x 0.3 m

Pressure difference = 500 kN m-2

(i) Calculate the total volume of filtrate collected.

(ii) What is the final rate of filtration? [50]

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 Question 2
(a) An existing reverse flow cyclone is to be used to remove dust from a gas stream at 150 ºC
before it is released to the atmosphere. The cyclone has been designed using customized
design procedure to maintain a pressure difference of 500 N/m2 across the cyclone. Height to
diameter (H/D) ratio of the cyclone is 5 and the important cyclone dimensions are as follows.

D= 0.55 m, a = 0.55 m, b= 0.08 m, De = 0.385, H= 2.75 m

Necessary data and charts are given below (Fig.s Q2(a) to (c)).
[20]
Calculate the suitable gas flow rate.

(b) Particle size distribution of the dust in the inlet gas stream is given in Table 2.1. Plot
cumulative weight percentage undersize graph for the dust samples.

Table 2.1 [30]

Size range Mean Size Weight Fraction

(µm) (µm)
0-10 5 0.20
10-20 15 0.30
20-30 25 0.35
30-40 35 0.15

(c) Calculate the fractional efficiency of each mean particle size. [50]

Data:
Density of dust = 1105 kg/m3
Density of the gas = 1.1 kg/m3
Viscosity of the gas = 1.8 x 10-5 Ns/m2

The following equations are valid for the cyclone;

D = 0.75 Q1/2 P = D4∆P/ 8 ρg Q2

d 2 ρ s v i (n + 1) η = 1 – exp[-2 (C ψ)1/(2 n + 2)]

ψ=
18µ ⋅ D
Where,
vi – inlet gas velocity, m/s n – vortex component
∆P – pressure drop across the cyclone, N /m2 Q – gas flow rate, m3/s
ρg -Gas density, kg/m3 ρs - Particle density, kg/m3
d- particle size, m

Cont’d

Page 3 of 6
Fig Q2 (a) Cyclone Dimensions Fig. Q 2 (b):
): Vortex component vs. Cyclone Diameter

Fig. Q 2 (c):
): Cyclone design parameters Vs Pressure drop factor P
Question 3
(a) Explain the terms equivalent volume diameter (dv) and the equivalent surface
diameter (ds) of a non-spherical particle. [10]
(b) Show that for a non-spherical particle sphericity (ψ) is given by;

dଶ୴
ψ= ଶ
dୱ [15]

(c) Ergun’s equation for flow through packed beds is given below.

∆P =
(1 − ε) L 
. .150 µ
(1 - ε ) v + 1.75 ρ v 2 
ε 3
d  d
f 

6 Vp
d=
Sp

∆P – pressure drop across the bed

ε - bed voidage
L – bed height
v – superficial fluid velocity
ρf, µ - fluid density and viscosity respectively
Vp and Sp – Volume and the surface area of a particle in the packed bed respectively

20 kg of refractory material, molochite are poured gently into a tube of 0.15 m

diameter giving a static bed height of 0.8 m. The true density of the material is 2750
kg/m3 and the particles are non-spherical with 375 µm equivalent volume diameter
and 0.7 sphericity. Calculate the pressure drop when air of density 1.4 kg/m3 and of
viscosity 1.6 x 10-5 Ns/m2 at 20 °C is passed downward through the bed and leaves at
atmospheric pressure at a flow rate of 3.5 x 10-3 m3 /s.
[75]
Density of the gas = 1.2 kg/m3
Viscosity of the gas = 1.8 x 10-5 N s/ m2

Page 5 of 6
Question 4
(a) For laminar flow conditions the terminal settling velocity of a particle is given by;

d 2 (ρ s − ρ f )g
Ut =
18µ
Starting from the above equation, show that for a sedimenting centrifuge the feed rate
(Q) is given by ,
Q = Ut Σ

Where Ut - the terminal settling velocity of the particles under gravity

π (r22 – r12)l ω2
Σ = -----------------------
ln(r2/r1) g

Where,
r2 and r1 are the outer and inner radius of liquid in the centrifuge [40]
respectively.
l – length of the centrifuge
ω - speed of the centrifuge in rad/s

(b) A dilute slurry contains small solid food particles of diameter 6 x 10-2 mm which are to
be removed using a sedimenting centrifuge. Calculate the feed rate required to remove
the solid particles completely.

[20]
3
Data; particle density = 1200 kg/m
liquid density = 1000 kg/m3
liquid viscosity = 1.1 x 10-3 N s/m2
length of the centrifuge = 100 mm
outer liquid radius = 30 mm
inner liquid radius = 5 mm
speed of the centrifuge = 250 rev per min

(c) The feed rate calculated in (b) is increased by 25 %. Calculate the percentage of solid [40]
particles carried away with the liquid.

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